N*E*R*D - 'Seeing Sounds' (Interscope) Released 09/06/08

As one of hip-hop’s most eclectic groups you never quite know what to expect when removing the plastic from a new N*E*R*D album. Their first, ‘In Search Of’, is a classic in its own right. The combination of hip-hop and light rock influences left fans in awe while off the back of its success Pharrell became the hottest hook man in music. Excited and desperately seeking out the next album from the fab three, 2004’s ‘Fly Or Die’ was a huge disappointment. With way too much rock instrumentation the album sounded way too busy. So… what’s the new album like? Success for these guys is all to do with the balancing of genres. And they’ve got it spot on.
 
Not that comparing projects holds any kind of merit, but if you were to at least have a stab, ‘Seeing Sounds’ is very reminiscent of the Beastie Boys mash up album ‘Paul’s Boutique’. Together with its random production, which boasts hip-hop, rock, drum ‘n’ bass, and funk influences, Pharrell, Chad and Shae have lyrically and vocally crafted an emotional project with a scientific outlook.

Lead by the rapid fire first single ‘Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In The Line For The Bathroom)’, the double bass supported backdrop is a thing of beauty. How often do records designed for the club sound like they were constructed in a jazz café? The non-conforming creativity doesn’t stop here there either. ‘Spaz’ is another speedy joint with cross-dressing issues. One minute the track is enjoying life as a member of the drum ‘n’ bass community, then halfway through its break moves in to atmospherically flexible territory and back again.

Optimum moments include the disco loving ‘You Know What’, which hears Pharrell mimic Mario’s introduction from his smash ‘Let Me Love You’, bonus cut ‘Lazer Gun’, and reality taster ‘Sooner Or Later’. The latter slows the pace of the album right down to give listeners a breather before getting back in to the heavy stuff.

However, the icing on the cake comes when Pharrell’s tales of a star crazed fan echo over the funky jazz infused riff of ‘Yeah You’. Smooth, easy on the ear, and most definitely an interesting structure of subject matter, N*E*R*D make magic with this finely tuned piece of contemporary storytelling. Everything from the bassline to the horns is perfect.

With the announcement of a split a few years ago, it’s a damn good job they saw sense and came together to create one of the year’s most intoxicating records. Whether you lost faith in the sci-fi loving crew or this is your first time visiting N*E*R*D, ‘Seeing Sounds’ is a good place to find musical inspiration.